Ball-bearing coin detector



Apr. 24, 1923.

F. W. MILL.S

BALL BEARING COIN DETECTOR Filed sept. 18, -lez 362722* M 'ZS, u

Patented Apr. 24s, 1923.

narran siete-s FRANK W. MILLS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BALL-BEARING COIN DETECTOR.

Application filed September 18, 1920. Serial No. 411,177.

To all whom t may conce/ra Be it known that I, FRANK YV. MILLS, a citizen of the United States, residingat 48 N. Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a i new and useful Improvement in Ball-Bearing` Coin Detectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to coin detectors and is fully described in the following specification and shown inv the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the coin detector mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an elevation looking at the left hand edge of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the member having coin slots; s

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the cover for the same; and,

Fig. 5 is a partial section on the line 5 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment illustrated, the coin detector mechanism is mounted on the board 10 which forms one side of the boX on which the coin detector is employed. It comprises a bottom member 11, having ears 12 and 13 through which pass screws 14 and 15 by which it is secured to the board 10. A

9G curved slot 16 is formed in the bottom member 11, the bottom of the slot being uniformly smooth.

The cover 17 overlies the bottom member 10 and covers the greater part of the slot 16. A lever 18 is pivotally mounted on the screw so as to be readily movable thereon. It is pivotally connected to the actuating` member 19 which has a vertical slot 20 whereby it is slidable on the screw 21, the latter being .secured to the board 10. A spring 22 normally holds these parts in the position shown.

The lever 18 carries a pin 23 which is movable in the arcuate slot 24 and 25 in the bottom member 11 and the cover 17 respectively. The cover 17 also has a series of holes 26 overlying the slot 16 and arranged longitudinally thereof, in which are slidably mounted hardened steel balls 27. Springs 28 secured at 29 to the cover 17 bear upon these balls and force them toward the slot 16. A lever 30 is hingedly mounted on the screw 31 and carries two fingers 32 and 33 which project into the side. o f the slot 16 as shown in Figure 1. The spring 34 normally holds these lingers inoperative position. The detent 35 is hingedly mounted under the screw 14 and projects into the same side of the slot 16 and is held therein by means of the spring 36.

Openings 37 and 38 through the bottom of the slot 16 and the board 10 respectively,

as will be later explained. The upper end of the slot 16 is provided with a member 40 secured to the board 10 by means of screws 41, and having an opening 42 through which the coin may be inserted.

The method of operation is as follows:

The coin is inserted through the opening yare provided with a glass insert 39 and en- `able an observer to see they last coin inserted to the position A where it is' pressed down as previously `described by means of the finger 23. rIhere is at least one of the spring balls 27 above the coin when in the position B, and as the coin in the position A is forced down both of the coins A and B are forced against the back of the slot 16 by these spring pressed balls so that they must necessarily meet squarely edge to edge as the upper coin is forced down. This precludes the possibility of one coin slipping past the other and the two becoming wedged, in the machine. As the coin A is moved to the position B the coin B is forced past the iinger 32 and falls to the position C, where it is again stopped by the detent 33.

It will thus be seen that the last coin used in operating` the machine falls immediately in front of the window 38 where it may readily be seen. If, therefore, a slug or a coin other than the one intended to operatey the machine is used, it will be apparent.

While I have shown and described but a single embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as possible in view of the` prioi` art.

vWhat l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a coin-operated machine7 a slot thru which the coins are caused to pass9 said slot having a smooth plane side, detents for stopping coins at denite points in said slot, a plurality of spring-pressed fingers having free ends overlying` said slot, and adapted to press the coins against the back of said slot` some of said fingers "overlying the spaces in advance of and in the rear of they coin which is in front of' the second 15 detent.

which the coins are caused to pass, said slot having a smooth plane side, and spring pressed balls overlying said slot for pressing adjacent coins against the back of the slot whereby they Will be brought edge to edGe.

i?. Inva coin-operated machine7 a slot thru which the coins are caused to pass, said slot having' a sinooth plane side, spring-pressed ingers and a ball carried by each of said fingers overlying said slot for independently pressing` adjacent coins against the back of the slot whereby they will be brought edge to edge.

FRANK W. MILLS. 

